So is this what the sequel to “Illmatic” was destined to sound like before Nas hit up Trackmasters?

[Ziggiy]

Some of the trackmasters stuff is too soft, but it probably saved his career, or extended it a lot further. By 1996, boom-bap style beats had been more or less phased out, and everyone was on the OB4CL/G Rap Mafioso ish... illmatic style beats would've sounded ancient in 1996.

I still would've loved a mixtape of illmatic-esque beats. I also think there could've been 1-2 less trackmasters beats, and insert another preemo beat, or grab a beat from RZA. Or more "shootouts" type of trackmasters and less "black girl lost" trackmasters beats. Could've still done some harder production like on The War Report or Hell On Earth which came out after.

Premo was going on tour. He literally ONLY had time to make I Gave You Power for Nas and then he left again.

Nas himself wanted to do Black Girl Lost. That was a song the TrackMasters said was entirely his vision down to having Jo Jo sing the hook.

In 96 RZA produced Iron Man and was coming off Liquid Swords, OBFCL, and Return To 36 Chambers. I don’t think he had time to lock in with Nas.

The truth is that Nas, Steve Stoute, and the TrackMasters all had a plan to lock in and they did just that. They gave Nas exactly what he needed at a time when Marley Marl fronted on him and the soundscape of Rap music was evolving from the Boom Bap sound. I think we can all agree at this point that Nas works best with producers he can lock in with and create a vibe. The TrackMasters were the first to create that space for him and in turn helped him become a superstar. I don’t think any other NY producer of that time could have helped get Nas to the next level.

 

[BK The Great]

 

[En Sabah Nur]

this was produced by Marl too

Why have I never heard this before?

 

[Piff Perkins]

In hindsight we can look at the Marley thing and say wow how dumb was it to turn tracks into promos but it may not be fair. Nas was hot in 1995 obviously but he wasn't an A-list dude with plaques. Illmatic hadn't gone gold yet, none of the singles were certified yet, and the popularity was largely based in NY. It's not like when Marly worked with LL in 1990 for instance. The way I view it, he may have looked at Nas like some may have looked at Jeru, where you've got a hot track and a dope album but your producer is still handing out tracks as promos (10 Crack Commandments beat) because why not.

All that changed in 1996. I agree with those who have said the Trackmasters were perfect for Nas at the time. They've talked before about helping him learn how to write radio records, how to edit himself, etc. That's the shyt that helped him get bigger. Do I wish he could have gotten a RZA beat in 96, or another Premo beat at some point (which was unlikely due to the things @Ziggiy mentioned)? Sure of course. Hell it would have been cool if he had managed to still get a Marley track on there. But IWW is IWW and pretty tough to beat or improve, besides Black Girl Lost which it seems like was gonna be on there no matter what.

 

[WIA20XX]

I always wonder how Nas would be perceived if Illmatic never came out and It Was Written was his first album?

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

I always wonder how Nas would be perceived if Illmatic never came out and It Was Written was his first album?

It’s just one of those things…

Similar to asking how Casino would be perceived had it came out before goodfellas.

The original spoiled the fans and the follow up, while incredible just wasn’t the same as the original. However, had the follow up been identical to the first release, it would be criticized for being unoriginal. Catch 22

 

[Cladyclad]

It’s just one of those things…

Similar to asking how Casino would be perceived had it came out before goodfellas.

The original spoiled the fans and the follow up, while incredible just wasn’t the same as the original. However, had the follow up been identical to the first release, it would be criticized for being unoriginal. Catch 22

He went from a dude talking about his projects to a drug lord. That’s the issue. Nas could made another album in the same vein as illmatic. Damn near every rappers first few albums are similar

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

He went from a dude talking about his projects to a drug lord. That’s the issue. Nas could made another album in the same vein as illmatic. Damn near every rappers first few albums are similar

I get what you’re saying and there’s something to that. However, this was more of a sign of the times. After OB4CL everyone was on the mafia kingpin ish…and Nas just followed suite. No one was on the boom bap street reporter tip by 96.

On 36 Chambers they weren’t rapping about Wu Gambinos and organized crime like that.

Listen to the infamous where the Mobb rapped as if there were just some stick up kids selling some rock, compared to hell on earth where they talking about doing hits and organized crime.

I do think Nas did it in a more disingenuous way going more 180° from illmatic to IWW, BUT; and I’ve stated this before, hip hop evolved a lot sonically, subject matter content, production, etc from 94-96

 

[Cladyclad]

I get what you’re saying and there’s something to that. However, this was more of a sign of the times. After OB4CL everyone was on the mafia kingpin ish…and Nas just followed suite. No one was on the boom bap street reporter tip by 96.

On 36 Chambers they weren’t rapping about Wu Gambinos and organized crime like that.

Listen to the infamous where the Mobb rapped as if there were just some stick up kids selling some rock, compared to hell on earth where they talking about doing hits and organized crime.

I do think Nas did it in a more disingenuous way going more 180° from illmatic to IWW, BUT; and I’ve stated this before, hip hop evolved a lot sonically, subject matter content, production, etc from 94-96

“Illmatic drop it was so ahead”

U can’t go from a innovator to a follower with no push back

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

“Illmatic drop it was so ahead”

U can’t go from a innovator to a follower with no push back

And that’s one reason why I think IWW criticism is warranted. I think over the years it’s gotten overrated. I remember it dropping in real time, and me being disappointed not every track was an instant classic

 

[DaKidFromNoWhere]

Dude ain’t a Nas fan but somehow finds his way in every Nas thread. I don’t even open threads for artists I’ve got no interest in.

Never!

 

[mson]

Yall actions show y’all not truly fukking with his new shyt

the man just dropped a classic 3 months for Christ sake but y’all making Illmatic 2 scenarios

So the long ass threads pertaining to those albums arent enough for you?

 

[Cladyclad]

So the long ass threads pertaining to those albums arent enough for you?

7 albums breh

7 of em

Y’all the reason Nas career had its stumbles. y’all can’t let it go

 

[bigde09]

Nas has had 7 albums in 5 years yet y’all still stuck in the past

Nas threads is like the bat signal for this dude

 

[mson]

7 albums breh

7 of em

Y’all the reason Nas career had its stumbles. y’all can’t let it go

And we talk about those albums. I don't see what you're talking about.